Talk about an impact. Seventy-three seconds and one touch was all reported West Ham United target Promise David needed to get Canada back into the game during Wednesday’s World Cup clash with Switzerland in Vancouver.
The Union Saint-Gilloise striker entered the fray in the 75th minute and scored in the 76th.
And if there has been a more aesthetically-pleasing goal in tournament so far, well, answers on a postcard please. A lovely touch and cross from Nathan Saliba, and an emphatic flick-of-the-foot finish from a stretching Promise David.
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Now, it is no secret that West Ham United are admirers of David. The Hammers were heavily linked going into the January transfer window. The subsequent arrivals of Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe put an end to that.
But with both of those mid-season additions facing an uncertain future – Callum Wilson has already announced his departure, don’t forget – is there a chance that David could return to the table?
West Ham United fans impressed by Promise David’s Canada impact
“Promise David! Goal! That’s someone I think we could get this summer,” influential X account West Ham Central writes in response to David’s 17th goal for club and country since the start of 2025/26.
“I know we’ve been linked before with Promise David,” another says. “He’s a pretty decent player. I think he’d do well in the Championship. Still young and has room to develop.
“Damn nice finish today vs Switzerland. Was not easy whatsoever.”
Others, though, are slightly more pessimistic.
Some feel that, as Union Saint-Gilloise reportedly value David at £17 million, this is a delusional fever dream brought on by the inescapable June heat.
Another simply writes ‘Vipotik’.
Wilson Isidor scored with a long-range blast during Haiti vs Morocco a few hours after David’s Vancouver consolation – Sunderland’s number 18 is another West Ham target – but Swansea hitman Zan Vipotnik remains the dream signing for many fans following his Golden Boot-winning campaign in the second-tier.
“Find any World Cup goalscorer that we haven’t been linked to at some point in time.”
“Could have had [David] last summer.”
David earning his ‘Baby Lukaku’ reputation at the World Cup
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David has only played around 45 minutes of football at the 2026 World Cup. Yet, David assisted Cyle Larin’s equaliser against Bosnia on matchday one before stepping off the bench again to turn the tide on matchday three.
Hat-trick hero Jonathan David remains Canada’s main man – his ruthless treble deepened Julen Lopetegui’s gloom and sent Qatar packing between those Bosnia and Switzerland clashes – but the contributions of Larin and David prove that Jesse Marsch’s side is anything but a ‘one-man team’.
For West Ham, building a squad – not just an XI – capable of securing an immediate return to the Premier League is the target.
Promise David continues to justify his ‘Baby Lukaku’ nickname; his 6ft 5ins frame and his penchant for game-changing contributions certain to earn Union Saint-Gilloise a decent windfall before the summer is out.
West Ham probably need the sale of Mateus Fernandes to go through before they can realistically consider turning their attention to centre-forwards with a £17 million price-tag.
Other, potentially more affordable, striker options include FC Metz’s Pape Moussa Fall, Leyton Orient’s Dom Ballard and Cardiff City’s Yousef Salech.
In the meantime, David’s brilliance off the bench may give Jesse Marsch a selection dilemma ahead of the last-32; Canada’s first-ever foray into the knockout stages.
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